Another year, another opportunity to not make a resolution. This year I won’t be making one as I don’t have a specific thing I want to change right now. I made so many (positive!) changes in 2017, that those are enough for a while. I also don’t have any “goals”, as those are some things to be obtained. I started so many new things last year and they will not be ending this year.
So, I think I will say that this year I will “continue”. I will continue my health journey, appreciating the success I have already had. I will continue my education that I started at my new university. I will continue learning my role at my new job. I will continue to be a loving caretaker to those that need me. I will continue to “trust myself” this year. I will continue on the paths that I have chosen and see where they lead. I believe I know where I will be, but we all know about the “best laid plans of mice and men”.
I feel so good about where I am heading that I don’t mind the sacrifices too much. Admittedly, there are rough patches, and setbacks, but like most things, they are temporary. It will just make the reward that much sweeter, right?
I wish you all much success as you continue your own path this year.

Well, lookie here – it’s already a new year. And in keeping with my resolution of no resolutions, this year I challenge myself, and all of you to “Trust Yourself”.

2016 was a rough year in a lot of ways, for a lot of people – including myself. I am not where I expected to be, and for that I am disappointed. But, I am going to try very hard in the new year to trust myself – my decisions and my opinions. As “they” say, we know ourselves the best. I am going to work on making sure that I believe in what I choose to do. And to be gentle with myself, no matter how things turn out.

I wish joy and love to each of you. And give you permission to trust in yourself. You’ve got this!

I really need to talk about females who have Adult ADHD, but I really don’t know what to say, yet. I think I just want to open up the conversation about it.

Like, do you know anyone that has it? Do YOU have it? Were you diagnosed as an adult? Do you think you really have it? Or is it a relief to be diagnosed with it? And, do you feel guilty about having it/being diagnosed with it?

I have so many questions, and fear that far too many folks don’t have any anecdotal answers for me about it. Because, apparently, diagnosing females with ADHD is a very complicated thing that has been misdiagnosed pretty much since it was identified in white, male children. Go figure. What – we only get 78% of diagnoses as men now, too? *eyeroll*

Anyway, no, I’m not diagnosed with it. But, after reading about it and self-diagnosing myself (*Thanks too much free time between jobs!), I raised the possibility with my long-term doctor, who agreed that it might be something to look at further, when I’m on insurance again and can get back in there to chat about it.

I am certain I will have more to say about this, and hopefully you might, too.

*UPDATE* I just found out that it is “ADHD Awareness Month”. I want to say “Woohoo! I’m on time for something!”, but, it’s the 7th already, so, I guess I’m late on this, too. Go me!

Where I worked, we recently had a Health Fair and one of the tables that was set up was for information that was provided by the Susan G. Komen Foundation. One of the pamphlets they sent was called “Men Can Get Breast Cancer, Too, which I thought would be good to focus on since this is a predominantly male manufacturing plant. I thought it would be a very fluffed over thing, because surely the guys know that since both males and females have breast tissue that we are both at risk (*granted, their chance is significantly lower – just 1.3 cases per 100,000 folks). Boy, was I wrong!

I found out that SO MANY of them had never even heard that it was a possibility. In fact, one guy even told me that his doctor had told him that guys *couldn’t* get breast cancer. Holy Misinformation! After the first couple of guys told me they were unaware, I decided I was stopping every guy (even pulling some back over!) and making sure he had at least heard of the chance it could happen. I explained to them that while their chances are low, if they have a family history, males or females, they should get checked. And that they should be aware, and not dismiss, potential early detection signs, like changes in the nipple, lumps under the skin in the chest or underarm area, or just changes in shape or size of the breast.

Showing off my mad breast check skills.

On a positive note, there was one guy that HAD been screened for breast cancer because many of the women in his family had had cancer, so he was aware of the need to check himself. I’m not saying “screening”, because routine screening isn’t recommended due to the low occurrence. That it is why it is so important to share the need for guys to self-check, if there is a family history, and to just be aware otherwise. It’s important because men are diagnosed at a later stage, when it has more often already spread to nearby tissues or lymph nodes. It’s important because it can be treated easier with early detection.

Fact: In 2016, it is expected that there will be 2600 new incidences of men being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, and 440 male deaths. It’s not a high number, but, it’s still 440 fathers, sons, brothers, uncles and cousins and we want them around. Please help make sure they are aware.

And for those of you that know men with breast cancer, surviors, or their supporters, there is a forum on the Susan G. Komen site to share stories and experiences with others that they may be interested in checking out, too.

I hope this helps some of you that may not have realized this was a possibility, and give you some info on how to broach the subject with the fellas in your lives, too.

This was originally posted here, but I want to repost it as October is here again already, with updated information.

Today is October 1st, which, for the last 31 years has been recognized as “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month”. It’s also the day that my friend say, “Cool – I can get lots of pink things at Target now.”. Yep, that’s what it has come to, in my opinion – a month known for the proliferation of pink things, but not really the cause behind it any more.

And you know what? I’m kind of okay with that.

Of course, I don’t diminish the impact that breast cancer can have on a woman and her family – my son’s grandmother is a breast cancer survivor, in fact. Nor do I ignore the need for awareness for a disease that has the highest incidence rate (2013* (*updated) most recently data available) – moving ahead of prostate cancer, affecting nearly 200k women directly, each year, which you can get more information about at the Avon Foundation site, “All for the Breast”, among other places. I just have a problem with the monetization of the awareness.

Have you guys ever heard of “pinkwashing”? It’s a controversial variation of cause marketing that focuses on breast cancer & how *some* of the companies using the pink ribbon & BCA may not be doing it for pure motives. I emphasis *some* because I want to impress that not ALL companies releasing special products for BCAM have ulterior motives – but you know what they say about “bad apples” and all (*did you know that metaphor is actually true?). Anyway…

In no way am I telling you not to purchase a specially branded product – I’m just asking that you educate yourself of the brand’s intentions with this marketing. The “Breast Cancer Action” organization has come up with a site, “Think Before You Pink” to help consumers challenge themselves to ask questions before purchasing a pink branded item. I don’t see anything wrong with purchasing a product because it is pink and you like it, but please do not say you bought it only as a way to support the cause. Own your purchase and if you are sincere about wanting to help, please donate directly to a reputable breast cancer charity – the most notable being the “Susan G.Komen for the Cure” organization, or give of your time in your local community ANY TIME OF YEAR, not just in October, because we all know cancer doesn’t only strike one month a year. And wear your pretty new pink product when you go. 🙂